'As Good as Gold': McInnes Hails Raskin's Professionalism Amid Rangers Transfer Limbo

Derek McInnes has moved to quell any suggestion of unrest at Ibrox, insisting Nicolas Raskin has been “as good as gold” while the Belgium midfielder waits for clarity on his Rangers future, according to BBC Sport. Raskin has found himself frozen out of the picture in recent weeks, left out of Rangers' last two match-day squads amid lingering speculation over a possible move away from the club. Crucially, however, no transfer has materialised — leaving the Belgian in a professional limbo that shows few signs of ending. It is a delicate scenario for McInnes, who must balance squad harmony with the cold realities of the transfer market. Yet the Rangers manager has been emphatic in his praise of the player's attitude, stressing that Raskin has conducted himself impeccably in training despite the uncertainty hanging over his career. For Raskin, the stakes extend well beyond Glasgow. With the 2026 World Cup gathering pace, competition for places in the Belgium midfield is unforgiving, and extended spells in the wilderness do little to strengthen any player's international case. Regular football — wherever it comes — is the currency of World Cup selection, and every omitted squad list chips away at a player's claim to a seat on the plane. The irony will not be lost on Rangers supporters: a Belgium midfielder on the club's books now reduced to a watching brief. Still, McInnes's comments, as reported by BBC Sport, suggest there is no personality clash driving the omission — merely the pragmatism of squad management while the player's future remains unresolved. Raskin's professionalism, in McInnes's telling, has been beyond reproach. “As good as gold,” in the manager's own words — a ringing endorsement of a player coping admirably with circumstances largely beyond his control. For now, the midfielder trains, waits, and keeps counsel. Whether his future lies at Ibrox or elsewhere, McInnes has made one thing abundantly clear: attitude is not the problem. In a season of uncertainty — and with a World Cup year now on the horizon — the sooner resolution arrives, the better for all parties concerned.